Corporate and Political Activism Real Time Expert Panel

The Real Time Expert Poll involves a panel of experts which periodically grades companies that take political stands, rating those companies’ management on their consistency, transparency and other dimensions.

Panelists hail from 39 world-renowned universities in eight countries, including Oxford, Cornell, Columbia, INSEAD, Georgetown and University of Pennsylvania. They represent both liberal and conservative political leanings, and bring expertise on diverse topics such as corporate reputation, social impact, communications, politics and economics.

Panel Mission

To provide an objective voice and immediate feedback when companies become politically active

What is Corporate Political Activism?

A public position taken by an organization, or its executives, on a divisive political issue, election or legislation

Traditional wisdom holds that corporations should avoid making political statements at any cost. Companies cannot afford to alienate their customers; or so the logic goes. But something is changing in the corporate world. A number of high profile companies are challenging that view, voluntarily taking stands on some of the most controversial issues facing the nation today. Even more companies are being dragged into the political sphere unwillingly. Research reveals both unexpected benefits and overlooked pitfalls of taking – but also not taking – such stands. Learn more >

How the Panel Works

Company takes a stand - Company announcement selected based on newsworthiness and interest level of the panel

The LeBow-led panel of business professors from 39 universities gave Lyft a “B” and Uber a “C+” for their reactions to Donald Trump’s executive order barring visitors and refugees from seven Muslim countries.

A poll asked a panel of business school professors to grade Uber on its first ever endorsement of a political candidate. They gave Uber a “C” for its move to support the re-election of republican candidate Derek Armstrong.

A LeBow-led panel of business professors from 39 universities gave Goldman Sachs a C- grade on new rules that ban the firm’s partners from contributing to certain political campaigns, including the Trump-Pence ticket.